The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”

“Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.” But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. [75-113 litres] Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.” When the jars had been filled, he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.

When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him. John 2: 1-11, NLT

The shift

A wedding celebration that makes a difference, marks a shift, a first. Jesus is invited, along with family and some of his newly-found followers. I imagine joy, good conversation and merriment, enjoying good food and wine, singing, dancing. Joyful communion! But celebration shifts to embarrassment and shame, disconnection, when the wine jars empty. Party over?

Jesus decides – apparently at his mother’s prompting – to ‘reveal his glory’ for the first time and does so in an arguably strange manner. Big jars are filled with water - much water. This would take the servants quite some time to do. Water is mysteriously converted to wine - a large quantity of wine and good quality! The MC is astonished. The servants’ bewilderment shifts to awe. The host’s honour is restored. Broken communion repaired. The festivities continue.

QuestionS

What do Jesus’ new followers make of this event? How does it start to shift their view of their teacher? Jesus leaves changed – his glory revealed, made public, no longer hidden from view. His new followers leave changed, - converted – they believed in him, start to put their trust in him, because of this astonishing happening at a wedding celebration.

Where am I filling jars with water, hoping for wine, praying for transformation? Where am I seeing ‘glory revealed’?

For further reflection

Wisdom has built her house;

she has carved its seven columns.

She has prepared a great banquet,

mixed the wines, and set the table.

She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.

She calls out from the heights …

“Come, eat my food,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

Proverbs 9: 1-5

Where do I need wisdom in this Lenten season?

Where in our world, where in my world do I long for sound judgement to prevail?

Caroline Tyler